First aid charity backs new government legislation to improve child safety

Stephanie Bateman

Thousands of new nursery and pre-school staff in Lincolnshire will receive paediatric first aid training for the first time from this September, as new government proposals are given the go ahead.

St John Ambulance, the leading first aid charity, welcomes the proposals and is now urging childcare providers to ensure they have sufficient training in place as the changes in legislation loom.

Early years providers must have at least one paediatric first aider available on the premises at all times and a certain number of staff with level 2 and 3 qualifications to fulfil the required ratio of qualified carers per child.

The new proposals mean, in addition to a childcare level 2 and 3 qualification, newly qualified staff will also need an emergency paediatric first aid or full paediatric first aid certificate if they want to be counted towards the required ratio.

The move will increase the number of trained staff per child - a life-saving change that will add approximately 15,000 additional trained early years professionals to nurseries and pre-schools each and every year.

St John Ambulance supports the government’s plans, which were announced last year and have been the subject of consultation.

Andrew New, Head of Education and Training Products at St John Ambulance said: ‘We believe all child facing roles should be first aid trained so we welcome the government’s proposals as this will have a real impact on the safety of children in nurseries and similar places.’

St John Ambulance runs two-day paediatric first aid courses throughout the year. A new, one-day emergency paediatric first aid course will start from 1 September. To book a training course in Lincolnshire call 0844 770 4800.

The charity’s training focuses on emergency scenarios that face those looking after young children and infants, such as dealing with a child that is unresponsive, choking, bleeding or has been burned or scalded, as well as learning how to deliver cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR).